Tell the guards to open up the gates

Dozens of people rallied outside of Disneyland in hopes of pressuring California state officials into reopening Disney California Adventure and Disneyland theme parks. It’s been seven months after the coronavirus pandemic forced both theme parks to close in March. Disneyland enthusiasts and cast member employees gathered outside Anaheim, CA to protest its closure. The theme park closer has caused the loss of more than 28,000 jobs across both of Disney’s U.S. theme parks.

Governor Gavin Newson and other California state official’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that will allow the park to reopen. California Governor Gavin Newsom said Disneyland and surrounding large theme parks wouldn’t reopen anytime soon. The state “is in no hurry in putting out guidelines,” he said, referring to the rules that theme parks would need to operate safely as the pandemic number continues to increase. Cast members and Disneyland fanatics are protesting in hopes of bringing urgency to reopen both theme parks. Anaheim city officials have tried to step up pressure on Newsom to issue guidelines to reopen. Although Governor Gavin Newsom does not anticipate any changes or guidelines from any of the theme parks reopening until there is more stability with the pandemic. Despite Disneyland and Disney California Adventure remaining closed, Downtown Disney is open for business.

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Newsom has stated that he is taking a cautious approach to re-opening the California economy after an earlier effort led to a major spike in coronavirus cases that lasted for weeks and resulted in many reopened businesses having to shut down for a second time. But the governor has not offered a timeline for the reopening of California’s amusement parks. Orange County continues to report an average of about 4.6 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per day, which puts the region in the second-most restrictive level in the state’s four-tier system. The county has confirmed 1,401 coronavirus deaths. Newsom told reporters during a press briefing at the end of August that state officials were “actively” working with Disneyland and other theme parks in California.

While other Disney theme parks in Florida, Paris, Shanghai, Japan, and Hong Kong have been able to reopen with limited capacity, both California theme parks have remained closed. Disney has been losing money since the pandemic outbreak began. Disneyland reportedly loss $1 billion in operating income due to the closures of its parks, hotels, and cruise lines. In the third quarter, the company reported a steeper loss of $3.5 billion.

There has been an effort to persuade California state legislators to provide guidelines for reopening parks. Urging Disneyland to analyze the success of the other theme parks like Florida and internationally in Paris, Shanghai, and Japan. Showcasing their updated safety measures that have been placed. To look at the theme park policies placed including requiring masks, having sanitation stations widely available, online mobile ordering for meals, and cashless pay.

Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined a new four-tier reopening framework in late August for easing restrictions on California’s businesses depending on the level of Covid-19 spread in individual counties. Orange County, which is where Disneyland operates, remains in the “substantial” tier, and theme parks must remain closed, according to the state’s website. 

References:

Erich S. (2020). Disneyland Reopening Is Postponed. The Wall Street Journal. Eastern Edition.

Frances E. (2020). Disneyland pushes back Calif. reopening date beyond July 17. SNL Kagan Media & Communications Report.

Kevin S. (2020). Shanghai Disneyland reopened—here’s how it looks with social distancing. Today’s Parent (Online).

Letters to the Editor: Gavin Newsom is right to resist pressure on reopening Disneyland. (2020). In Los Angeles Times (Online). Los Angeles Times Communications LLC.